Tool having handle movable at right angles and dovetailed lock



April 21, 1953 o. w. DAWSON 2,635,660

TOOL HAVI HANDLE MOVABLE RIGHT ANGL AND DOVETAILED K Filed Dec. 7, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 .3 45' ll I'A A ril 21, 1953 o w. DAWSON TOOL HAVING HANDLE MOVABLE AT RIGHT ANGLES AND DOVETAILED LOCK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1946 R m M, Ma Q 1 Patented Apr. 21, 1953 1309B HAVING-HANDLE MOVABLEAT RIG-HT ANGLES AND- DOVEPAIEED LQCK 1 This invention relates. to'a: tool for driving. and: setting screws; bolts,- nuts. or the like.

. Primary: objects of thisiinvention are to provide animpraved' tool for driving: and settingscrews, nuts; bolts or the, like; to. provide; a. tool: of the aforementioned type having.v a handle. thereon which is; slidablyand hingedly associated with th shank of the tool: and which can be swung outzatsri'ght angles to. the too]; shank and; engaged in. position anywherealong said shank; to provide novel means of releasaloly locking? the aforementioned handle in a driving position, that is;a position. coaxial with said shank; toprovide means which will allow the handle, when swung normally: to said shank to: be rotated thereon without. turning the latter so-as'to-provid'e means ofiobtaining a. new bitefor said handle on the shank; to. provide a handle: so constructed that whenthe latter isrpositi'oned at right angles with respectitathe shank it will not slipthereon whenthesvtbor is. being operated; toprovide a tool of the aforementioned type towhich various workengaging tools may bedri'vi ngly connectedfor useinldriving and setting any of the various types of: screws on forany ot' the various sized nuts, bolts, or the like; toprovi dea tool of-th-e aforementionedi type which is ruggedin construction, inexpensive, to manufacture and neat in appearance.

These and other objects of this invention will; become apparent from-the followi-ng detailed desctiiotion takenin conjunction with the accompanying-drawings; which 7 Rig. i is a sideelevational view of one CmbOdiE mentjofthe toolof this invention with the handle disposed parallel to theshank;

Fig; 2-iss an enlarged cross sectional' view, taken along-the-line Z-Zyof Rig, 1*;

' F 3fis: a re lar ed cross-sect nal View taken along the line 3-3 of Eig; 1;

Fig: isanenlarged cross-sectional; View taken aldnatheline 4- 4 of Fig; 1;

- Fig; 54's an enlarged cross-sectional: viewtaken along: the line 5 -5iof="l?'ig. l-;

" Ei'gi 6v is ared uoed side elevational'view of the structure; illustrated in Fig. l with the handles shown: at right; angleszto the shank;

7; 182 ahorizontal cross-sectional viewof the handleandshanki1lustrated in Big; L showing a rther embodiment of: the. invention E a, Ms a broken sectional view at the structure, illustrated lllF-ig; 3; showing a further em: hodiment Of the invention 9 is aside elevational- View ofthe' driving. end'ofa toolshank illustrating. a further embodie ment ofthe invention;

Fig; lO-is a cross-sectional view offtllev driving end offthe tool of this invention illustrating a removable attachment: secured thereto 1 1 1 is a cross-sectional viewof the structure similar he illustrated Figs. 10 showin a feather embodiment or invention v;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the: drivin end: oi at 60101 illus rating: a, further term of; the invention; and:

- Fig, 1.3; a cross-sectional View similar to. Fig; 1% illustrating a stili further embodiment of the invent-ion.

Referring: now; ta the; drawings;- and morev particularly to Eig-h l, ,it. be seen that thevtool' of this invention comprises three. primary parts, a head; element rotatably mounted on theiupper end ofzia tool shank; Hf and-1a handle I19; slidably-mounted on said shank; lihe tool shank fit: squarein. crosssection throughout the ma- J'iority oi? its length, as can be seen in; Figr 1. However; ,aclzi'acenti or. near the: driving. end of: the- .tool the shank L1: is provided with a. cylindrical portion 2'1 which is of substantially the same diameten'as the widthoi. the square portion-eithe- H This cylindrical portion: is used for a. purpose which. Wiillfibe hereinafter brought out.

Aeri'llustrated 1; the lower ordrivingend oi." the shank l'l: is formed with a conventional V-type screw driver end-2'3 adapted to engage a slotted type screw head for driving and setting thesame;

As-icanbe seen in Figs. 9&3, the driving end of the shank: H can bemad'ewith an integral work engaging tool: on the end thereoil-or can be madeso as= tobe-adapted t0 receive anyof afllarge numberof.removablework engaging tools on the end thereof;

A-s seen Fig. 9; the driving end ot' the shank H is formed in theshape of a Phillips screw driver 2 l 'which is adapted for use in drivingandsetti-ng; Phillips-type screws;

IrrFige 1 0*; the driving end of the shank H is; out off square as at 2-9 and-"isv provided: adjacent the end thereof with a spring-pressed ball 3+.

This of shank driving end is adapted to,

receive a socket-type tool- 32 tor driving and setting bolts, nuts and" the like; 32v is of the type havingone socket. 33 iorreceiving; the workpiece; and" a. separate socket 3.4 Er

receiving th encl of the shank, IT. The, spring;-

pr e i all," 3' r a n t e s c et on he end: of

the shank l1:

Fig 1;]; illustrates the use of" a; still difierent ree o ocket :001, on the end ofthe toolshank.

n this m diment h riving. end; f the. hank. l fiisform dw llh a1 hair Qf." upset oppositely dis,

posed bumps 31' andv is also provided: with. a.

spring-pressed, ball; enggagingbfiljll 3,5. The SOQKet too1'3F is of the type-having'a s gl Opening 38 extending; through the center thereof, and therefore thebumps 34 act asstops for the backend The. socket tool shank II having a square recess 39 formed in the end thereof adapted to receive the square shank 4| of a removable Phillips head screw driver 43, as shown in Fig. 12, and of a removable Allen head screw driver 45, as shown in Fig. 13. Suitable means, such as a spring-pressed ball, are provided on the square shank 4| for holding the tool firmly in the recesses 39 in the end of the shank.

It will thus be seen that this invention contemplates the use of a tool wherein either a solid driving end may be provided for the shank, or the shank may be formed with an end adapted to receive any of the various types of removable working tools which may be used for driving and setting workpieces such as screws, bolts, nuts or the like, with a minimum amount of time required to adapt the tool for use on any of these various workpieces. 7

As seen in Fig. 3, the upper end of the shank I1 is formed with a cylindrical portion 49, and adjacent the upper end of the cylindrical portion 49 an annular groove I of a semi-circular shape is formed. As previously stated, the head element I5 is rotatably mounted to the upper end of the shank II and, as illustrated in the drawings, the head element is of a hexagonal shape. The head element I5 has adepending collar 53 on the lower end thereon, and the collar 53 and head I5 are provided with a centrally disposed recess 55 extending upwardly from the lower end of the collar into the head element. Extending upwardly from the recess 55 is a smaller cylindrical recess 59 adapted to rotatably receive the shank cylindrical portion 49 therein. As can be seen in Fig. 4, the head element I5 is drilled angularly across opposite faces thereof to receive a pin BI therein which is received in a portion of the annular groove 5| cut in the cylindrical shank end 49. The pin BI rotatably connects the head I5 to the shank I'I.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the head I5 may be rotatably attached to the shank I! in a still difierent manner. The upper end of the shank I1 is provided with a cylindrical portion 63 which has its upper end recessed as at B5. The head element I5 is provided with a recess 61, similar to the recess 55 in the previous embodiment, and the upper end of which communicates with a cylindrical aperture 69 of reduced diameter which is enlarged at II. The cylindrical portion 63 of the shank I I can then be rotatably secured to the head element I5 by forcing the head element I5 down on top of the cylindrical shank portion 63 so as to flare the upper recessed end of the cylindrical portion 63 outwardly to provide an annular flange I3 which projects into the enlarged portion II to prevent the shank from being withdrawn from the head element but at the same time allowing rotation therebetween.

, The collar 53 which depends from the head element I5, as can be seen in Fig. 3, has its outer surface inclined downwardly and outwardly to provide the male portion of a dovetail look, as will be hereinafter described. As can be seen in Fig; 2, the outer surface of the collar 53 is eccentric with respect to thecenter of the shank I! as at 54. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, this eccentricity 'or offset amounts to approximately .028 of an inch.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the handle element I9 is of a generally hexagonal shape and has a square opening I5 extending longitudinally through the center thereof. As best seen in Fig. 3, the handle is provided with a longitudinal rectangular slot 11 cut in one-of its sides which extends from the upper end and terminates in an end wall I9 adjacent to the lower end thereof. The slot 7! also communicates with the opening I5 extending through the center of the handle I9. Diametrically opposed from the slot 1'! is a shallow rectangular slot 8| which extends upwardly from the lower end of the handle I9 and terminates in an end wall 83. The slots 11 and BI are longitudinally aligned a d overlap each other so that the distance between the end wall 83, where the slot 8| terminates, and the end wall 19, where theslot 'I'I terminates, is equal to the width of the slot I5 extending through the center of the handle I9.

The handle I9 is slidably received on the square shank I! but is not rotatable thereon due to the close tolerances between the opening I5 and the shank II. The upper e d of the handle I9. is formed with a generally circular recess therein, which recess is complementarily dovetailed to receive the dovetailed depending collar 53 of the head element I5. The recess 85 likewise is eccentric with respect to the center of the shank II. It is offset in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing toward the slot as at 86 in Fig. 2 approximately .028, as can be seen in Fig. 2. When the handle I9 is coaxial with the shank I! it can he slid upwardly into an abutting relation with the head e1en1entl5, and locked thereto by rotating the head element until the recess 85 will receive the collar 53 therein. The head element I5 is then turned in either direction and due to the eccentricity of both the recess 85 and the .collar 53 the mating surfaces thereof will bind and .prevent further rotation. The dovetaillock formed by the collar 53 and recess 85, will lock the handle to the head I5 and retain the handle in a position coaxial with the shank II. This position is the driving position for the tool and will be referred to as such throughout the remainder of the specification and claims.

Due to the slot arrangement previously described for the handle, the handle I9 is hingedly associated at its lower end to the shank I1 and when the handle is released by the head element I5 so that it may be slid downwardly out of engagement therewith, the upper end of the handle can be swung outwardly away from the shank, due to the slot 11 which leaves the upper end thereof open. The handle will swing outwardly until it reaches an angle of approximately 90 with respect to the shank, whereupon the end wall 83, at the endof theslot 8| on the lower end of the handle I5,will abut against one side of the shank l1 and the end wall "I9 at the end of the opposite slot 11 will abut against the opposite side of the shankI'I to retain the handle in a position normal to the shank, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The handlel9 may then be slid upwardly ordownwardly along the shank II to any desired point, so that it is possible to apply force on'the tool shank very near the driving end.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the square'opening extending normal to the longitudinal opening I5 and formed by the opposed walls I9 and 83, is of the same Width as the width of the longitudinal opening I5 so that when the handle is in the out-' wardly swung position and driving pressure is exerted on the free end thereof, it will be locked to the shank in the position where the pressure is applied. That is, when pressure is applied to the free end of the handle i9, it cannot slide along the shank II. The handle therefore provides an efiective means for driving and rotating the shank close to the driving end without any danger of the handle slipping along the shank.

When the handle is in the outwardly swung position and is being used to rotate the tool for driving a screw or the like often times the handle becomes rotated to a position where it is difficult or impossible to exert a force thereon. When this occurs, it is possible to rotate the handle with respect to the shank without turning the shank. This is accomplished by sliding the handle along the shank until the lower end thereof is positioned over the shank cylindrical portion 2 I. The handle can then be rotated without turning the shank. After the new bite has been obtained the handle can be slid longitudinally along the shank until it is over the desired square portion thereof, and then once more it can be used to drive the shank and working tool on the end thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, the shank is provided with a longitudinal filler strip 89 which is secured on the face of the shank portion I I which lies opposite to the slot 17. This strip is provided for the purpose of filling up the slot 11 when the handle is in the driving position, in order to present a neater appearing tool. The strip 89 is secured to the front face of the shank [1 by means of a plurality of countersunk screws 9| inserted through the back face of the shank l1.

While several embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto and that it is intended to cover all modifications thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A manually operable tool including a square shank, a handle having an opening extending longitudinally through the center thereof slidably received on said shank, said handle having on one side an elongated slot with an end wall communicating with said opening and on the other side a short slot having an end wall also communicating with said longitudinal handle opening, the end wall of one slot and the end wall of the other slot being so positioned as to define a square opening extending normally to said longitudinal square handle opening adjacent one end of said handle, whereby said handle can be swung outwardly at right angles to said shank.

2. A manually operable tool including a square shank, having a cylindrical portion intermediate the ends thereof, a handle element having a square longitudinal opening through the center thereof slidably received on said shank, said handle having an elongated longitudinal slot extending inwardly from one end and terminating adjacent the other end thereof, said slot also communicating with said square longitudinal handle opening, said handle having a short longitudinal slot extending inwardly from said other end on the opposite side thereof from said first slot, the inner end portions of said slots overlapping and defining opposite sides of a square opening extending through said handle normally to said handle longitudinal opening, whereby said handle is hingedly connected to said shank and may be swung outwardly at right angles to said shank for turning the same when engaging a square portion thereof and turning relative thereto when engaging said cylindrical portion.

3. A manually operable tool including a square shank, a handle element having a square longitudinal opening through the center thereof slidably received on said shank, said handle having an elongated longitudinal slot extending inwardly from one end and terminating adjacent the other end thereof, said slot also communicating with said square longitudinal handle opening, said handle having a short longitudinal slot extending inwardly from said other end on the opposite side thereof from said first slot, the inner end portions of said slots overlapping and defining opposite sides of a square opening extending through said handle normally to said handle longitudinal opening, whereby said handle is hingedly connected to said shank and may be swung outwardly at right angles to said shank for turning the same.

4 A manually operable tool including a square shank, a handle having a square-shaped opening extending longitudinally through the center thereof slidably received on said shank, said handle having on one side an elongated slot with an end wall communicating with said hollow square opening and on the other side a short slot having an end wall also communicating with said longitudinal opening, the end wall of one slot and the end wall of the other slot defining a square opening extending normally to said longitudinal square opening adjacent one end of said handle, whereby said handle can be swung outwardly at right angles to said shank and locked thereto when force is exerted on the free end of said handle, a head element rotatably mounted to the upper end of said shank, and lock means on said head element and handle for securing said handle on said shank in a driving position.

5. A manually operable tool including a square shank, a handle having a square-shaped opening extendin longitudinally through the center thereof, slidably received on said shank, said handle having on one side an elongated slot with an end wall communicatin with said hollow square opening and on the other side a short slot having an end wall also communicating with said longitudinal opening, the end wall of one slot and the end wall of the other slot being so positioned as to define a square opening extending normally to said longitudinal square opening adjacent one end of said handle, whereby said handle can be swung outwardly at right angles to said shank, a head element rotatably mounted on the upper end of said shank, and off-center annular dovetails formed on the lower end of said head element and on the upper end of said handle element which mate with each other in one position and form a dovetai1 lock for locking said handle on said shank in a driving position when relatively rotated from said mating position.

ORLIE W. DAWSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Oberjohann Jan. 16, 1923 

